Penerjemah: FenrirTL
Editor : TheBattleSage
Catatan Editor/Pemeriksa Kualitas: Saphartlantis
========================
< Bab 60: Banyak Ekor Tersembunyi >
Tempat yang dituju oleh Demon Doctor bukanlah bangsal medis.
Dia membawaku ke kediamannya sendiri, di mana sebuah kamar rahasia telah disiapkan di bawah tanah untuk prosedur penting.
"Karena ini adalah prosedur yang berbahaya, ada banyak hal yang harus disiapkan."
"Luangkan waktumu."
"Bagaimana jika kita gagal? Kamu bisa menjadi buta."
Aku tahu dia sedang menguji tekadku. Tidak ada kemungkinan menjadi buta karena gagal dalam New Eye Technique. Jika prosedur itu memiliki risiko seperti itu, dia tidak akan berani melakukannya pada Heavenly Demon.
Melihat keyakinanku, Demon Doctor terkekeh dan mengeluarkan bahan-bahan yang diperlukan dari brankas rahasia.
Segera, dia membakar dupa untuk menenangkan pikiran dan mensterilkan jarum-jarum. Dia mencampur berbagai obat, beberapa di antaranya direbus lalu didinginkan.
Sementara itu, aku berbaring di tempat tidur dengan sehelai kain hangat, beraroma ramuan obat, yang menutupi mataku setelah aku melepas pakaian atasan.
"Baiklah, mari kita mulai."
Dia memasukkan beberapa zat ke dalam mataku pada interval yang berbeda. Beberapa sejernih air, yang lain merah seperti darah. Ada cairan hijau yang tampak seperti racun dan satu lagi berwarna biru seperti energi pedangku. Aku sepenuhnya mempercayai Demon Doctor, jadi dengan tenang aku mempercayakan matanya kepadaku.
Setelah meneteskan berbagai obat ke mataku, Demon Doctor mulai melakukan akupunktur. Dia menempatkan jarum secara padat di sekitar mataku, di wajahku, dan bahkan di dadaku.
"Sekarang, tidurlah."
Mataku tertutup dengan sendirinya. Aku berbicara kepada Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique dalam pikiranku, menyuruhnya untuk rileks dan beristirahat dengan baik hari ini.
Sudah sangat lama sejak aku tidur begitu nyenyak.
Ketika aku terbangun, jarum-jarum yang sebelumnya ditancapkan di wajah dan tubuhku sudah dicabut.
Demon Doctor sedang duduk di mejanya membaca buku, dan begitu aku bangun, dia berjalan menghampiriku.
"Bagaimana perasaanmu?"
"Dan matamu?"
"Bahkan lebih baik."
Penglihatanku benar-benar menjadi lebih jernih. Penglihatanku yang tadinya sudah bagus kini semakin meningkat, dan bidang penglihatanku begitu jelas rasanya aku baru saja keluar dari kabut. Jika dilebih-lebihkan sedikit, rasanya seolah-olah selama ini aku hidup dengan mata tertutup, dan segala sesuatu di sekitarku tampak begitu nyata.
"Ikuti aku."
“Lihatlah matahari.”
Menatap langsung ke arah matahari seharusnya menyilaukan, tetapi sama sekali tidak.
“Bagaimana?”
Aku bisa melihat benda-benda dengan jelas yang sebelumnya tidak akan bisa kulihat. Sungguh luar biasa. Terlebih lagi, ketika aku memfokuskan mataku, aku bisa melihat hal-hal yang seharusnya tidak terlihat.
“Aku bisa melihat dengan jelas. Aku bahkan bisa melihat semut-semut yang merayap di dahan pohon di sana.”
Mendengar kata-kataku, Demon Doctor tertawa.
“Sekarang, ikuti aku lagi.”
Kali ini, Demon Doctor membawaku ke sebuah ruangan gelap di dalam kamar rahasia bawah tanah.
Pandangan yang tadinya tampak samar bahkan ketika aku menyalurkan kekuatan dalam kini terlihat jelas tanpa usaha apa pun.
“Baiklah, prosedurnya sukses besar. Matamu telah terlahir kembali.”
“Terima kasih. Sungguh, terima kasih.”
Saat pertama kali menginginkan New Eye Technique, tujuan utamaku adalah untuk menghindari mata Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Oleh karena itu, aku tidak terlalu mengharapkan efek luar biasa dari teknik ini.
Namun New Eye Technique jauh lebih luar biasa dari yang kubayangkan. Hanya ada satu cara untuk menggambarkan keadaan ini.
Saat aku melangkah keluar dari ruangan gelap itu, aku membungkuk dalam-dalam kepada Demon Doctor.
“Terima kasih.”
Demon Doctor, yang terkejut, membantuku berdiri.
“Kenapa kamu melakukan ini?”
“Terima kasih. Saat kau menjadi pemimpin sekte, aku akan memberitahumu siapa yang ingin kubunuh.”
Demon Doctor menggenggam tanganku dengan erat, dan aku membalas remasannya.
Saat aku meninggalkan kediaman Demon Doctor, segala sesuatu yang kulihat tampak berbeda. Rasanya benar-benar seperti dunia baru yang terbuka.
Tiba-tiba, aku memikirkan hal ini.
Dengan demikian, Heavenly Wind Cult Leader menerima ucapan terima kasih yang misterius.
Aku baru menyadari betapa pentingnya bagi para seniman bela diri untuk memiliki penglihatan yang baik.
Teknikku menjadi jauh lebih presisi, dan seiring dengan meningkatnya presisi tersebut, mereka juga menjadi semakin kuat.
Selain itu, ini akan menjadi keuntungan besar saat berlari dengan Star Light Step. Aku sempat khawatir apakah penglihatanku akan mampu mengimbangi ketika aku mencapai puncak kecepatan, tetapi sekarang kekhawatiran itu telah hilang. Aku telah memperoleh mata paling kuat yang dapat dimiliki manusia, dan mata itu akan meningkat lagi ketika aku menjalani kelahiran kembali tubuh.
Setelah mempercayakan urusan Underworld Pavilion kepada Seo Daeryong lagi, aku menghabiskan waktu dengan mengurung diri di ruang latihan, membiarkan ilmu bela diri dan tubuhku beradaptasi dengan mataku yang baru.
Tenggelam dalam latihan seni bela diri untuk beberapa waktu, akhirnya aku mencari Lee Ahn setelah sekian lama.
“Tidak! Aku harus mengulangi teknik ini dua puluh kali.”
“Kenapa melatih suatu teknik dua puluh kali dalam sehari?”
“Ini enam puluh kali sehari. Latihan sore adalah dua puluh kali.”
“Ya ampun. Kau akan jatuh sakit.”
“Istirahat saja hari ini. Jika kau datang dan minum bersamaku, kau akan bisa tidur dengan nyenyak.”
“Berapa kali lagi yang tersisa?”
“Delapan kali. Jika kau terus mengganggu, ini akan memakan waktu lebih lama.”
“Sisi kirimu terbuka.”
“Kali ini, lebih cepat.”
Saat aku memperbaiki posturnya, aku sekali lagi menyadari bakat luar biasa Lee Ahn dalam seni bela diri. Dia memahami dan belajar dengan cepat.
Selama proses menghadapi Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, seni bela diri yang paling sering kulatih adalah Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. Semakin sering aku melatihnya, semakin menyegarkan rasanya.
Teknik itu selalu beresonansi secara mendalam denganku. Rasanya seolah-olah aku sedang menguasai seni bela diri yang hidup. Pantas saja teknik itu membangunkanku dari tidurku dengan resonansi yang begitu mendalam.
Berapa kali aku mengulangi latihan Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique?
Ketika aku membuka mata, Lee Ahn sedang mengamatiku dari jarak yang tidak terlalu jauh.
“Ya. Aku menyelesaikan semuanya dua puluh kali.”
“Tentu saja. Kau bahkan belum makan selama tiga hari penuh.”
“Apa? Tiga hari?”
“Aku?”
“Kau datang menemuiku tiga hari yang lalu. Kau tampak seperti sedang kesurupan, jadi aku tidak mengganggumu.”
Aku terkejut. Rasanya aku bahkan tidak berlatih selama satu jam, apalagi beberapa hari.
"Apakah aku, secara kebetulan, tertidur?"
Aku pasti sedang dalam kondisi kesurupan. Aku tidak bisa mengingat bagian mana pun dari latihanku.
"Tunggu sebentar."
Aku duduk dan melakukan Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique sekali. Qi-ku mengalir jauh lebih mulus dan akurat dari sebelumnya.
Saat aku berdiri, aku tersenyum cerah. Ada kemajuan yang signifikan dalam Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. Latihan terus-menerus yang kulakukan telah terakumulasi dan menghasilkan peningkatan levelku melalui kondisi kesurupan ini.
Kau bisa mengetahuinya hanya dengan melihat ekspresiku. Aku mengangguk dengan senyuman lebar.
"Cukup untuk mentraktirmu makan enak."
"Selamat, Tuan Muda."
"Terima kasih. Ini berkat dirimu."
"Jika kau tidak bersikeras menyelesaikan latihanmu, aku tidak akan duduk di sebelahmu dan ikut jatuh dalam kondisi kesurupan."
"Oh, benar juga! Traktir aku makan enak!"
"Tentu saja, aku akan membelikanmu apa pun yang ingin kau makan!"
Aku dengan tergesa-gesa meninggalkan tempat latihan bersama Lee Ahn.
"Tidak. Aku sudah makan."
Aku bisa mendengar suara perutnya yang bergemuruh.
Saat aku sedang melatih kultivasi qi dengan perut kosong, dia pasti tidak makan sendirian. Dia bahkan mungkin berhenti berlatih selama tiga hari agar tidak mengganggu kondisi kesurupanku.
"Beruang konyol."
"Kau ini licik, seperti rubah."
"Tentu saja, aku punya lebih banyak ekor tersembunyi."
Aku tertawa riang.
"Sudah lama sejak kita berjalan bersama seperti ini, Tuan Muda.\
Translator: FenrirTL
Editor : TheBattleSage
Editor Notes/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
========================
< Chapter 60: Many Hidden Tails >
The place the Demon Doctor headed to was not the medical ward.
He took me to his own residence, where a secret chamber had been set up underground for important procedures.
"Since this is a dangerous procedure, there's a lot to prepare."
"Take your time."
"What if we fail? You could go blind."
I could tell he was testing my resolve. There was no chance of going blind from failing the New Eye Technique. If the procedure had such risks, he wouldn't dare perform it on the Heavenly Demon.
At my confidence, the Demon Doctor chuckled and took out the necessary materials from a secret vault.
Soon, he burned incense to calm the mind and sterilized the needles. He mixed various drugs, some of which he boiled and then cooled.
Meanwhile, I lay on the bed with a warm cloth, scented with medicinal herbs, covering my eyes after removing my upper garment.
"Alright, let's begin."
He administered several substances into my eyes at different intervals. Some were as clear as water, others as red as blood. There was a green liquid that looked like poison and another as blue as my sword aura. I completely trusted the Demon Doctor, so I calmly entrusted my eyes to him.
After eye-dropping various drugs into my eyes, the Demon Doctor began acupuncture. He placed needles densely around my eyes, on my face, and even on my chest.
"Now, get some sleep."
My eyes naturally closed. I spoke to the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique with my mind, telling it to relax and rest well today.
It had been so long since I slept so soundly.
When I awoke, the needles that had been placed on my face and body had already been removed.
The Demon Doctor was sitting at his desk reading a book, and as I awoke, he walked over to me.
"How do you feel?"
"And your eyes?"
"Even better."
My vision was truly clearer. My already good eyesight had improved, and my field of vision was so clear it felt like I had come out of a fog. To exaggerate a bit, it felt as if I had been living with my eyes closed until now, and everything around me was vivid.
"Follow me."
“Look at the sun.”
Looking directly at the sun should have been blinding, but it wasn't at all.
“How is it?”
I could clearly see things that I wouldn’t have been able to see before. It was truly amazing. Moreover, when I focused my eyes, I could see things that shouldn’t have been visible.
“I can see well. I can even see the ants crawling on that branch over there.”
At my words, the Demon Doctor laughed.
“Now, follow me again.”
This time, the Demon Doctor took me to a dark room in the underground secret chamber.
The view that used to be faint even when I channeled my inner power was now clearly visible without any effort.
“Alright, the procedure was a complete success. Your eyes have been reborn.”
“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
When I first desired the New Eye Technique, my main goal was to avoid the eyes of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Therefore, I hadn’t greatly anticipated the magnificent effects of this technique.
But the New Eye Technique was far more extraordinary than I had imagined. There was only one way to describe this state.
When I stepped out of the dark room, I bowed deeply to the Demon Doctor.
“Thank you.”
The Demon Doctor, startled, lifted me up.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Thank you. When you become the cult leader, I’ll tell you who I want dead.”
The Demon Doctor gripped my hand firmly, and I squeezed back.
As I left the Demon Doctor’s residence, everything I saw looked different. It really felt like a new world had opened up.
Suddenly, I had this thought.
Thus, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader received a mysterious thank you.
I realized anew just how important it was for martial artists to have good eyesight.
My techniques became even more precise, and as they grew more precise, they also became stronger.
Additionally, it would be a significant advantage when running with Star Light Step. I had worried about whether my vision would keep up when I reached the peak of speed, but now that worry was gone. I had acquired the most powerful eyes a human could have, and they would improve again when I went through body rebirth.
After entrusting the affairs of the Underworld Pavilion to Seo Daeryong again, I spent some time secluded in the training hall, allowing my martial arts and body to adapt to my new eyes.
Immersed in martial arts training for a while, I eventually sought out Lee Ahn after a long time.
“No! I need to repeat this technique twenty times.”
“Why practice a technique twenty times in one day?”
“It’s sixty times a day. Evening practice is twenty times.”
“Goodness. You'll get sick.”
“Just rest today. If you come and drink with me, you’ll be able to sleep well.”
“How many times left?”
“Eight times. If you keep interrupting, it’ll take longer.”
“Your left side is exposed.”
“This time, faster.”
As I corrected her posture, I once again realized Lee Ahn’s exceptional talent in martial arts. She understood and learned quickly.
During the process of confronting the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, the martial art I trained in the most was the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. The more I practiced it, the more refreshing it felt.
It always resonated deeply with me. It felt as though I was mastering a living martial art. No wonder it awakened me from my slumber with such deep resonance.
How many times did I repeat the training of the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique?
When I opened my eyes, Lee Ahn was watching me from a short distance away.
“Yes. I completed all twenty times.”
“Of course. You haven’t eaten for three whole days.”
“What? Three days?”
“Me?”
“You came to see me three days ago. You seemed to be in a trance, so I didn’t interrupt you.”
I was taken aback. It seemed like I hadn't trained for even one hour, let alone several.
"Did I, by any chance, fall asleep?"
I must have been in a trance. I couldn't remember any part of my training.
"Hold on."
I sat down and performed the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique once. My qi flowed much more smoothly and accurately than before.
As I stood up, I was smiling brightly. There had been significant progress in the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique. The continuous training I'd been doing had accumulated and resulted in an increase in my level through this trance state.
You could tell just by looking at my expression. I nodded with a wide smile.
"Enough to treat you to a nice meal."
"Congratulations, young master."
"Thank you. It's thanks to you."
"If you hadn't insisted on completing your training, I wouldn't have sat next to you and fallen into a trance."
"Oh, that's right! Buy me a good meal!"
"Of course, I'll buy you everything you want to eat!"
I hurriedly left the training ground with Lee Ahn.
"No. I ate."
I could hear a growling sound from her stomach.
While I was practicing qi cultivation on an empty stomach, she wouldn't have eaten alone. She probably even stopped training for three days to avoid disturbing my trance.
"You silly bear."
"You're sly, a fox."
"Of course, I have many more hidden tails."
I laughed cheerfully.
"It's been a while since we've walked together like this, young master."
"It's nice, as expected."
That added phrase, 'as expected,' really lifted my spirits. I felt good too, Lee Ahn.
We entered the Flowing Wind Tavern in Maga Village together.
"Welcome! It's been a while, my lord."
"Bring it quickly!"
"Yes, I'll rush with the lightness skill!"
He first served the liquor, then dashed to the kitchen.
We had a drink on our empty stomachs.
"Ugh! It's strong. I feel like I'm dying."
A little later, the food was served, and we devoured it ravenously without minding anyone else's gaze.
We patted our full bellies and talked about martial arts over drinks. She asked me everything she had been curious about, and I answered as best as I could.
My Soaring Sword Art had been at a standstill ever since I broke through to Ten Star Greatness, but I hoped the new eye technique I had received this time would have a positive effect.
"By the way, how is Investigator Seo doing?"
"He should be fine. I haven't seen him lately because I've been training."
"Everyone's busy."
"Even if I don't know, he'll do well. Both in work and training."
"We don't know if they're getting along well. He might be getting scolded all the time and crying into his pillow every night."
Lee Ahn laughed heartily.
"I don't think so. Elder Blade Demon seems like a good person."
"But don't let your guard down. Just because he's good to Investigator Seo doesn't mean he'll be good to you. The opponent is the Demon Supreme. Be careful."
"One day, you'll have to defeat him with your own skills."
For a moment, Lee Ahn flinched.
"Me?"
She didn't say, "How could I ever defeat the Demon Supreme with my skills?" like she used to. Now that she had learned the Soaring Sword Art, saying that would be an insult to me and my father.
"You know, half-baked skills get you killed first. Once you've start something, you have to see it through to the end."
"Yes!"
I raised my glass, and she drank with me.
"And once your Soaring Sword Art reaches a certain level, let's start gathering the Haunted Shade Corps members in earnest. Once we properly gather the squad leaders, the rest will be easy."
I nodded honestly.
"One or two. We'll go and hire them later."
"Who are they?"
"If I tell you now, you'll just be surprised. I'll let you know when the time comes."
"When that happens, there's always a good solution: alcohol."
The sound of our glasses clinking was as cheerful as our mood.
"Let's order more drinks and side dishes."
"Unfortunately, I think we have to stop for today."
Seo Daeryong had entered the tavern quickly and was coming up to our table on the second floor to report on a new target I had to cook for.
"The leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult has just arrived at the gate of the Cult."
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